Proenza Schouler Takes A Step Toward Inclusivity

Proenza Schouler Makes A Statement About Inclusivity With Its Latest Lookbook

For their latest lookbook, Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are yet again making waves in a particularly subtle manner. The duo behind Proenza Schouler showcased their pre-fall 2017 collection on an impressive lineup. Photographed by Ethan James Green, the lookbook features a cast of mostly transgender and gender-fluid models. But, refreshingly, the unconventionality of the casting is not the focus.

Or, at least that's what Proenza Schouler wants you to know. The lookbook features transgender models Stav Strashko, Torraine Futurum, and Marcs Marcus, and it's notable for a luxury label to include so many transgender models in one sitting. (Though we obviously wish this wasn't an exceptional occurrence at all.) While the industry as a whole has been working toward making up for its lack of diversity primarily in terms of runway castings, Proenza Schouler is trying to pick up the slack on the editorial side, bringing new momentum to the movement once again.

As for why they decided to usher more of the progress made on the casting front, Lazaro and Hernandez's reasoning was quite sentimental: "We have admired Ethan’s work for a while now and have many mutual friends in New York. Ethan's way of capturing distinct personalities in a socially conscious and progressive way and his strong connection with New York and its underground subcultures is something we respect," the pair told Refinery29. The two asked Green to cast models he'd previously worked with, which just happened to include several models of colour and gender.

For their pre-fall offering, McCollough and Hernandez continued their signature asymmetrical hems, techno-pleating, and digital prints, with a focus on fall essentials, like tailoring and outerwear — in other words, particularly wearable fashion. There are a couple of creeper sandals in there, too, which we'll be saving up for come fall. The collection is available online and in stores now, but check out the lookbook, ahead. Which getup is your favourite?